As per Chapter 1 of the Florida Building Code, “Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any required impact-resistant coverings, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.”

The City of Oldsmar has an agreement with Pinellas County Building Department to perform all building inspections and plan reviews, operating as the Building Official for the city. In addition, 3 days a week, a Pinellas County Inspector is located in the Building Division of the Planning and Redevelopment Department to assist anyone with building questions, review plans and other building related items. All permit and plan applications are submitted and issued from the City of Oldsmar Building Division, located in City Hall.

Applications are available at City Hall in the office of Planning and Redevelopment and online on the City of Oldsmar’s website. Multiple applications are available depending on the scope of the work. The applications must be submitted with a description of the work as typically found on construction drawings. City staff can assist you with the application process.

When the job site is ready for inspection, call the City of Oldsmar Inspection Request Line at 813-749-1171. Leave the permit number, the address to the job site and the type of inspection to be made. Requests made before 3:30 p.m. will receive the inspection the next working day (Monday to Friday).

A building permit is valid for 180 days from the date of issuance or from the date of the last successful inspection. Extensions may be issued by the Building Official upon submitting a written request.

No, ordinary minor repairs may be made without a building permit provided the repairs do not include the cutting away of any wall, partition or portion thereof, the removal or cutting away of any structural beam or load-bearing support, or the removal or change of any required means of egress, or rearrangement of parts of a structure affecting the egress requirements.

Owners of the property acting as their own contractor must provide full time, direct on-site supervision themselves of all work not performed by licensed contractors. When building or improving 1-family or 2-family residences on such property for the occupancy or use of such owners and not offered for sale or lease, or building or improving commercial buildings, at a cost not to exceed $75,000 on such property for the occupancy or use of such owners and not offered for sale or lease.

Always get at least 3 estimates when selecting a contractor. The lowest estimate is rarely the best. Ask to see proof of the contractor’s state and county licenses, general liability insurance and workmen’s compensation insurance. Ask for at least 6 references and follow through by contacting the references and asking questions about anything that you have concerns about such as timeliness, quality, payments, coordination, and cooperation, etc.

You are required to meet Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regulations. Oldsmar has also adopted stricter regulations than FEMA. These stricter regulations result in lower flood insurance premiums to the citizens of Oldsmar. You are limited over a 10 year period, beginning from the start of construction of the 1st improvements to your building, not to exceed 50% of the buildings value if the building does not currently comply with Flood Zone regulations. Copies of the 50% rule and associated forms are available in our office. No variances to these regulations will be issued.

To register with the city as a contractor, you may register in person or by fax. You will need a copy of your PCCLB, your state license, a certificate of General Liability with the City of Oldsmar as the certificate holder, your workman’s compensation certificate and an original letter of authorization if anyone other than the qualifier will pull the permit. There is no fee to register.

Yes. The homeowner must read and sign an owner’s affidavit to be apprised of their responsibilities, such as getting work done in a timely manner, using the stated materials and calling in for appropriate inspections.

A variance is a process through which setbacks and other zoning requirements may be reduced if compliance with the requirement will produce an unnecessary hardship, practical difficulty, or unusual characteristic. Variances are not issued for building code or FEMA regulations.

A setback is a minimum separation distance between a lot line (or right-of-way line) and a building or structure. Setbacks vary by zoning district and there are exceptions to accommodate particular lot configurations. A corner lot has 2 front setbacks.

An easement is a right-of-way granted but not dedicated for limited use of private land for a public or quasi-public purpose within which the owner of the property shall not erect any permanent structures.

Yes. A no fee garage sale permit is required to hold a garage or yard sale. There is a limit of 2 garage / yard sales per year per property. It is illegal to place a sign in medians and right-of-way or to tack signs on utility poles or trees to advertise the sale. One sign is permitted on the property where the sale is occurring and up to 3 off-site placed directional signs are permitted with the approval of those property owner(s). Contact the Building Division for the permit.

The City Manager serves as the chief executive and administrative officer of the city and serves as the Mayor and City Council’s chief advisor. The City Manager prepares the annual budget and carries out all policies set by the Mayor and Council. He/she is also responsible for appointing and supervising all department directors.

Any pet running at large and not constrained by leash or full voice command is considered a public nuisance. Owners will be responsible for payment for impounding and subject to fines imposed by Animal Services. Owners are responsible for removing defecation while walking their animals.

There is no limit to the number of domestic animals allowed at a residence. However, there can be no breeding or kenneling of animals for profit with first obtaining a Home Based business tax receipt which verifies that this business can be operated at your home location.

Boats, trailers, and recreational vehicles may be kept at residences provided they are in a side or rear yard. Some exemptions are allowed, with a filing of a hardship request on a Parking Exception form with the city. To obtain the Parking Exception form, contact Planning and Redevelopment at 813-749-1121.

Yes. Temporary Use Permits are required for activities such as races, walkathons, charitable sales, art shows and festivals, erection of tents, block parties, road closings and any other situations which are outside the normal scope of permitted activities for a location, or which may have some impact on the community. Permits are also required for private activities at city facilities, such as races, concerts, weddings, private parties, and other similar gatherings not sponsored by the city. Call the Leisure Services Department at 813-749-1200 for events held in parks or other city facilities. For all other special events or general information, call the Planning and Redevelopment Department at 813-749-1121.

A citation is issued if there are signs indicating a no parking area, restricted area, such as handicap parking or a fire lane, parking a vehicle with an expired tag on a street/right-of-way or over a sidewalk (not in the driveway area). The Code Enforcement division is enforcing these types of parking violations.

The placard may not have been visible (or displayed) at the time the citation was issued. If a valid handicap placard is available for the vehicle/owner/passenger that was cited, contact the Pinellas County Traffic Court at 727-464-497 for information on correcting or cancelling the citation.

The activities and programs offered within a Community Redevelopment Area are administered by the Community Redevelopment Agency. The City of Oldsmar City Council acts as the Community Redevelopment Agency Board. The district must maintain separate trust funds, and expend those funds only in the district.

Under Florida law (Chapter 163, Part III), local governments are able to designate areas as Community Redevelopment Areas when certain conditions exist. Since all the monies used in financing CRA activities are locally generated, CRAs are not overseen by the state, but redevelopment plans must be consistent with local government comprehensive plans. Examples of conditions that can support the creation of a Community Redevelopment Area include, but are not limited to: the presence of substandard or inadequate structures, a shortage of affordable housing, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient roadways, and inadequate parking. To document that the required conditions exist, the local government must survey the proposed redevelopment area and prepare a Finding of Necessity. If the Finding of Necessity determines that the required conditions exist, the local government may create a Community Redevelopment Area to provide the tools needed to foster and support redevelopment of the targeted area.

There are currently 178 Community Redevelopment Areas in the State of Florida, including the City of Oldsmar Community Redevelopment Area.

The Community Redevelopment Agency is responsible for developing and implementing the Community Redevelopment Plan that addresses the unique needs of the targeted area. The plan includes the overall goals for redevelopment in the area, as well as identifying the types of projects planned for the area.

Examples of traditional projects include: streetscapes and roadway improvements, building renovations, new building construction, flood control initiatives, water and sewer improvements, parking lots and garages, neighborhood parks, sidewalks and street tree plantings. The plan can also include redevelopment incentives such as grants and loans for such things as façade improvements, sprinkler system upgrades, signs, and structural improvements. The redevelopment plan is a living document that can be updated to meet the changing needs within the Community Redevelopment Area; however, the boundaries of the area cannot be changed without starting the process from the beginning.

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a unique tool available for redevelopment activities. It is used to leverage public funds to promote private sector activity in the targeted area. The dollar value of all real property in the Community Redevelopment Area is determined as of a fixed date, also known as the “frozen value.” Taxing authorities, which contribute to the tax increment, continue to receive property tax revenues based on the frozen value. These frozen value revenues are available for general government purposes. However, any tax revenues from increases in real property value, referred to as “increment,” are deposited into the Community Redevelopment Agency Trust Fund and dedicated to the redevelopment area.

It is important to note that property tax revenue collected by the School Board and any special district are not affected under the tax increment financing process. Further, unlike in some states, Florida taxing entities write a check to the CRA trust fund, after monies are received from the tax collector.

The tax increment revenues can be used immediately, saved for a particular project, or can be bonded to maximize the funds available. Any funds received from a tax increment financing area must be used for specific redevelopment purposes within the targeted area, and not for general government purposes.

Always dial 911 to report any emergency. All 911 calls in Pinellas County are answered by the Pinellas County Emergency Communications Center. If the Fire Department or an ambulance is needed, the communications center dispatches the closest units to the incident. If the call is for law enforcement, the caller is transferred to the appropriate law enforcement dispatch center. In Oldsmar, that agency is the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department. If you need to speak with a sheriff’s officer but no emergency exists, you may call the Pinellas County Sheriff's Department at 727-582-6200 and request an Oldsmar deputy.

There have been some instances when a resident has called the fire station’s non-emergency business telephone number to request assistance or driven to the fire station for treatment of a medical emergency. We want to discourage people from doing this as often times the firefighters are away from the station performing inspections, testing fire hydrants, or training.

The average response time of the City of Oldsmar Fire Rescue to all types of emergencies is 4 minutes and 30 seconds with the city’s geography, the time of day, weather, and roadway configurations all affecting response times. Those residents or businesses located farther from the fire station will see a longer response time in most cases. In communities that have traffic calming devices such as speed humps, the Fire Department’s response times are slowed approximately 15 seconds for each speed hump encountered.

Thanks to a long standing automatic aid agreement between all of the fire departments within Pinellas County and the centralized dispatching center, all 911 calls for service are responded to promptly by the next closest fire / EMS crew. For Oldsmar residents, that would mean units from Safety Harbor, East Lake Palm Harbor, or Clearwater would be responding when Oldsmar Fire Rescue units are on other calls or out of service for training.

The City of Oldsmar Fire Rescue staffs its emergency apparatus with cross trained firefighter paramedics who serve as the Advanced Life Support first responders to 911 calls for medical assistance, rescues and vehicle crashes. The Pinellas County ambulance service, Sunstar, is also dispatched to provide patient transport to the hospital if necessary. The ambulance is staffed with a paramedic as well and is capable of taking over patient care from the Fire Department. In serious cases, the fire rescue paramedic may ride in the ambulance to the hospital as well to lend assistance. This system provides the fastest response to those in need and allows the fire rescue unit to be available to respond to the next emergency call.

Emergency personnel try to accommodate the patient's or the patient’s family's request of hospital destination, but many times this is not an option due to the patient's condition. Pinellas County EMS system protocols may dictate that the patient be transported to the closest hospital facility or a facility capable of providing specialized treatment. In some cases, paramedics in the field will be directed by Pinellas County EMS medical control staff to transport to a different hospital due to emergency department closures caused by patient overloading. In all instances where the hospital transport destination is not what the patient or family desired, the paramedics will discuss these issues with the patient and family.

Every firefighter on duty is assigned a pager which is activated by the Pinellas County Emergency Communications Center when there is an emergency call. Inside the fire station, an alerting device is activated and computer aided dispatch printouts are generated. The firefighters hear the verbal information from the dispatcher and take the printed call information with them as they respond. There are also mobile data computers in the emergency apparatus that also have received the emergency call information and display the incident location on a map for the crew to reference.

The department is staffed with 20 personnel filling various roles and responsibilities. They include an administrative staff of the fire chief and an administrative assistant, 2 fire inspectors, and a paramedic EMS coordinator. The administrative staff works a standard Monday through Friday 40-hour work week.

The rest of the staff is comprised of firefighter paramedics, firefighter EMTs, and officers. The firefighters work a 56-hour work week shift schedule of 1 24-hour work period followed by 2 days off. There are a total of 6 personnel assigned to each shift.

Employment candidates must be a State of Florida certified firefighter and also hold a state EMT certification. Visit the Fire Department Employment website for a full description of the certifications required, the job descriptions, and testing procedures. For those just starting out and in need of educational opportunities, both St. Petersburg College and Hillsborough Community College offer firefighter and EMT course offerings.

We are pleased when we get visitors to the fire station, and we are very proud to provide a tour of our fire station and the fire apparatus. We encourage families, scouting troops, and day care groups to schedule a tour in advance to ensure that staff will be available to guide the tour and answer any questions that you may have. Just call 813-749-1200 to schedule your tour.

If you are a resident and would like us to take a look at your home fire extinguisher to see if it needs replacing, just give us a call at 813-749-1200, and we will schedule a time to meet with you at your home or at the fire station. If you are a business, Florida law requires that your fire extinguishers be inspected annually by a licensed fire extinguisher company. During routine fire inspections, Oldsmar fire inspectors will check the fire extinguishers tag for compliance.

Yes, the City of Oldsmar Fire Rescue offers several educational opportunities to help residents and businesses better able to cope with emergency situations. They include CPR, First Aid, fire extinguisher use, and babysitting safety. If you do not see a convenient class offered, visit our calendar often as new courses may be posted. If you have a group and would like to schedule a course, please call us at 813-749-1200, and we will coordinate with your group on a training date.

Yes, 1 of our technicians trained in safety seat installation can assist you on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. Since these same firefighters may be called away to an emergency, we request that you please call ahead at 813-749-1200 to check their availability. We do not make appointments, so you must call shortly before the designated times. There is no fee for this service, but we do ask that you consider donating some canned goods for the Oldsmar Cares Food Pantry.

The City of Oldsmar has received a Class 3 Public Protection Classification from the Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO). This puts the city's fire suppression capabilities in the top 3% of all fire service agencies nationally. The ISO utilizes its Fire Suppression Grading Schedule to examine 3 major features of a community's ability to provide fire suppression services, including fire alarm and communications capabilities; Fire Department staffing and equipment; and the water supply system, including water storage, pumps, mains, and hydrants.

The Board of Adjustment meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month. The Planning Board meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Applications that require City Council approval will be heard by the City Council in accordance with their scheduled meetings.

Any property that shares a boundary with a property already in the city is eligible for annexation. City staff will assist you in the preparation of your application. The application fee for West Oldsmar Annexations has been waived. Please contact Michele Parisano, Planning Administrator at 813-749-1137 or via email should you have any questions or need assistance with this process.

The Town Center is the City of Oldsmar's Community Redevelopment Area or "downtown". It is generally the area between Tampa Road, Bayview Boulevard, and St. Petersburg Drive. Additional information can be found on the city website Community Redevelopment Agency.

A borrower may be a cooperative organization, corporation, partnership, or other legal entity organized and operated on a profit or nonprofit basis; an Indian tribe on a Federal or State reservation or other Federally recognized tribal group; a public body; or an individual. A borrower must be engaged in or proposing to engage in a business that will:

Improve the economic or environmental climate

Promote the conservation, development, and use of water for aquaculture

Provide employment

Reduce reliance on nonrenewable energy resources by encouraging the development and construction of solar energy systems and other renewable energy systems

The percentage of guarantee, up to the maximum allowed, is a matter of negotiation between the lender and the Agency. The maximum percentage of guarantee is 80% for loans of $5 million or less, 70% for loans between $5 and $10 million, and 60% for loans exceeding $10 million.

The total amount of agency loans to 1 borrower must not exceed $10 million. The administrator may, at the administrator discretion, grant an exception to the $10 million limit for loans of $25 million under certain circumstances. The secretary may approve guaranteed loans in excess of $25 million, up to $40 million, for rural cooperative organizations that process value-added agricultural commodities.

The maximum repayment for loans on real estate will not exceed 30 years; machinery and equipment repayment will not exceed the useful life of the machinery and equipment purchased with loan funds or 15 years, whichever is less; and working capital repayment will not exceed 7 years.

The interest rate for the guaranteed loan will be negotiated between the lender and the applicant and may be either fixed or variable as long as it is a legal rate. Interest rates are subject to agency review and approval. The variable interest rate may be adjusted at different intervals during the term of the loan, but the adjustments may not be more often than quarterly.

Yes. Collateral must have documented value sufficient to protect the interest of the lender and the agency. The discounted collateral value will normally be at least equal to the loan amount. Lenders will discount collateral consistent with sound loan-to-value policy.

The annual renewal fee is paid once a year and is required to maintain the enforceability of the guarantee as to the lender.

The rate of the annual renewal fee (a specified percentage) is established by Rural Development in an annual notice published in the Federal Register, multiplied by the outstanding principal loan balance as of December 31 of each year, multiplied by the percent of guarantee. The rate is the rate in effect at the time the loan is obligated, and will remain in effect for the life of the loan.

Annual renewal fees are due on January 31. Payments not received by April 1 are considered delinquent and, at the Agency discretion, may result in cancellation of the guarantee to the lender. Holdersrights will continue in effect as specified in the Loan Note Guarantee and Assignment Guarantee Agreement. Any delinquent annual renewal fees will bear interest at the note rate and will be deducted from any loss payment due the lender. For loans where the Loan Note Guarantee is issued between October 1 and December 31, the first annual renewal fee payment will be due January 31 of the second year following the date the Loan Note Guarantee was issued.

The Automatic Payment Program is open to all City of Oldsmar utility customers whose balance is current. Your monthly utility bills will automatically be deducted from your bank account or charged to your credit card 5 days prior to the due date.

Contact us at least 30 days before your payment is to be processed with your new bank account or credit card information. You will then need to forward a new authorization form (PDF) with the new account information to Utility Billing.

If your automatic payment is dishonored for any reason, the City of Oldsmar will send you written notification. You must then pay your utility bill in full by cash or money order. A fee will be added to your account for each non-paid automatic transaction. The City of Oldsmar reserves the right to discontinue your participation of the Automatic Payment Program if your payment is rejected. Your financial institution may also charge fees for rejected payments.

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